The independent wrestling promoter from Whitby is planning on bringing four shows to Oshawa before the end of the calendar year, the first on Sunday, Aug. 10 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Oshawa Legion. While much of Murley’s work is done behind the scenes, once the show starts, he grabs the mic to greet the fans, tosses out some souvenirs and then lets the wrestlers take over.

“This is a fun hobby for me,” says Murley, an Oshawa resident for 20 years before moving to Whitby. “I don’t do it to make money. I do it for the wrestlers so they have a place to work and I do it for the fans.

“I met Roddy Piper a few years ago and he asked me what I do. He said you give the young guys a place to work which is what they need. There aren’t that many venues.”

Now 50, Murley has been a fan of the sport for 45 years. He got involved in the promotional side of wrestling in 2005, selling merchandise at independent shows, earning the nickname Dr. Mask. The last three to four years he has done his own shows, mainly in this area.

It’s the minor leagues, much like the lower rungs of professional hockey. But the dreams and aspirations of a lot of the wrestlers in his stable are the same as hockey players -- trying to work their way up to the pros.

Some, not all.

“I really like the independent wrestling. It’s all the young guys coming up. I’ve had several friends I met in 2005 that are now on TV or just about to hit TV. It’s been fun watching them grow up.

“A lot of them understand they are doing this for fun,” says Murley. “A lot of them have aspirations to go as far as they can. It’s neat to see them grow.”

The Darlington Nuclear Plant employee says the following for his shows is slowly building back up, with Brutus Beefcake of WWE fame drawing the largest crowd in recent memory.

The Summer Surrender show on Aug. 10 will feature former TNA wrestling superstar Cody Deaner against RJ City, who can also be seen on YTV Spattalot as Gildar. Another highlight will be a four-way Femme Fatale featuring Jewels Malone, Addy Starr, Xandra Bale and Leah Von Dutch. Also scheduled to appear are All-Ego Ethan Page, Scotty Turner, tag teams The Fraternity and The Barbarians, Ashley Sixx, who recently defeated cancer, Reckless Ryan Swift, RIP Impact, Carter Mason, Vertigo, Gabriel Fureza, King Bee, and from the former Soviet Union The Red Menace.

Tickets are $12 advanced and $15 at the door. Doors open at 1 p.m. with the bell at 2 p.m.

Subsequent shows are also planned for September, October and November.